5 European Nations Agree to Tighter Russia Export Control Enforcement
Finland, Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Poland on May 9 signed an agreement that they said will align export control enforcement practices and increase information sharing across their customs agencies, particularly for illegal shipments to Russia, the countries announced.
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Finland's customs agency said the deal addresses the need for uniform sanctions enforcement, the importance of "information exchange and coordinated measures to address illogical transportation routes." The deal said the countries may require exporters to present "additional documentation" with their shipments.
Lithuania's customs authority said that the customs agencies of the five nations will "strengthen controls on goods subject to export prohibitions and restrictions," and could require shippers to submit a manufacturer "declaration" and other information to their customs authority. "The Customs authorities will also require other documents preventing the possibility of the entry of goods to Russia or other probabilities of circumvention of sanctions," the country said.
Lithuania said its customs agents already check for those "additional documents," but "after signing the agreement, the Customs authorities of the signatory countries will also apply similar practices." The country has had increased "risk reduction measures" in place since June 2023, and its statistics show that exports from Lithuania to Central Asian countries have been decreasing since then. "This confirms that the measures taken by the Lithuanian Customs authorities for preventing circumvention of sanctions are effective,” said Darius Žvironas, the head of Lithuanian Customs.